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Show C Y M C K A12 Y Sanpete Messenger-Sanpete Messenger/Gunnison Valley Edition M K Wednesday, June 17, 2009 Pageant (Continued from A1) had to go out and solicit performers,” he says. In recent years, numbers have climbed to 600 and 700— but 900? “It’s part of the miracle,” says pageant director Laren Swensen of Nephi. The 42nd pageant opens with the dress rehearsal Wednesday about 9 p.m. Performances run Thursday through Saturday this week and Tuesday through Saturday (June 23-27) next week. The forecast calls for skies to clear by the time the pageant opens and temperatures to rise to 90 by weekend. Unfortunately, those are optimum conditions for mosquitoes. “We’re doing our best to keep the mosquitoes down, Barton says. Usually crews fog the pageant grounds two or three times per week during the pageant. This year, they are fogging nightly. Nevertheless, people need to use mosquito repellent, Bar- ton says. “I told the local stores to stock up.” The pageant president and director both attribute the large cast to the economy and families staying closer to home this summer. Most of the performers are from the nine LDS stakes from Salina to Nephi that are the official feeder stakes for the pageant. But the leaders believe a few more people than usual have come from out of town. “People are looking for things to do close to home, something that’s going to cheer them up and pick them up,” Swensen says. Leaders are making sure all of the volunteer performers get time in front of the spotlights by double casting for many roles. One person plays the role on some nights and another on the other nights. Still, many performers will be on Temple Hill all eight nights. With all the extra cast members, the pageant needed PHOTO BY KELLY HANCOCK Volunteer seamstress Velda Hancock is one of many who are furiously sewing more costumes to meet the demands of a very large cast for the Mormon Miracle Pageant. lots of additional costumes. Lots of hard work produced them. A pageant at the Oakland LDS Temple in California that included pioneer and Book of Mormon scenes was discontinued two or three years ago. A call came into the Manti pageant asking if it wanted the costumes. A few weeks later a 53-foot semi-truck trailer chock full of costumes arrived. “We were able to use all but one rack,” Barton says. “That was a godsend with a cast this large,” Swensen adds. But when leaders checked on the number of people in various scenes, they found they were still short of costumes for two scenes: the Christ in America scene and the Lamanite warrior scene. Costume chairwoman Mimi Hancock of Ephraim called in volunteer seamstresses who sewed 200 costumes in two days. Hancock’s motherin-law, who has worked in clothing factories, came from Tooele to help. The pageant is trying something new this year in special effects. Mist is used to create an ethereal atmosphere during the First Vision and angel-chorus scenes. In recent years, the special effects staff has dropped dry ice into a 55gallon barrel and channeled the mist through PVC pipes to specific spots on the hill. This year, special effects chairman Milt Olsen of Manti has built a machine using car wash equipment, among other components. It atomizes water to create water vapor, and since real clouds consist of water vapor, the resulting clouds look more authentic, Barton says. Preparation for the pageant has gone wonderfully, Swensen says. Despite an unusually rainy spring, no outdoor rehearsals have been cancelled. “It would rain right up to rehearsal time. Then it would quit,” he says. “Or all it did was just sprinkle—nothing uncomfortable. Rehearsal would end. Then it would rain again.” Each cast has its own personality, says Barton, who has been involved with the pageant since its first performance. “This has been a phenomenal cast to work with. They’ve been minimal trouble. They’ve been cooperative.” Executive secretary to pageant presidency knows the drill By Suzanne Dean Publisher suzanne dean / messenger photo One of Dean Halling’s jobs as executive secretary to the pageant presidency is passing out insignia polo shirts to the pageant directing staff. MANTI—Hardly anybody has a longer history with the Mormon Miracle Pageant than Dean Halling of Manti. Since he got involved with the production in the 1980s, he’s done everything from chop up ice for drink cups in the pageant dinner operation to serve as pageant president for five years. Halling was released as president in 2007, and Doug Barton, the current president, was called to replace him. This year, Halling is executive secretary to the pageant presidency. “That’s the official title,” he says. “My goal is to take some pressure off the presidency. I run for things, coordinate things (and) take care of things that are just the nuts and bolts.” “He puts in countless hours,” says Lynn Schiffman, a counselor in the pageant presidency. “I don’t know if even he knows how many hours he puts in. He’s constantly calling back saying, ‘I got this done and this done and this done.’” Halling has played the roles of George Washington, a pioneer and the angel on the temple tower in various pageant casts. Later, he was in charge of breakfasts that the Boy Scouts served as a fundraiser to pageant-goers who camped overnight at the Manti City Park. The breakfasts used to be cooked in and served from a sheep wagon, the same type of conveyance sheepherders use for cooking when they are grazing sheep in the Manti-La Sal National Forest east of Manti. One morning when the wagon pulled up, cars were parked in every space around the circumference of the park. Halling couldn’t find an opening to get the wagon into the park. Finally, he recalls, he spotted a sidewalk that formed a bridge over an irrigation ditch and continued into the park. The walk was barely wide enough for the wagon to pass. But he and his crew gingerly pulled the wagon over the bridge, set up and started cooking pancakes. In 1999, the BYU scenery shop built the rock formation scenery that now graces Temple Hill during the pageant. The operation needed a mechanically minded person to take charge of assembling and disassembling the complex sets. Pageant leaders turned to Halling, who in daily life is a shop teacher at Ephraim Middle School. HELP WANTED POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT Ephraim City is looking for a qualified individual to work as a part-time recreation director. This individual will be responsible for advertising, registration, scheduling and supervision of the City’s sports programs. This position reports administratively to the City Manager and consults with the Parks and Recreation Board for program direction. This individual should communicate well with children and adults and also have a basic understanding of the rules of baseball/softball, basketball and soccer. Compensation is based on experience. Salary range is $12,000-$15,000. Application, resume and a cover letter must be submitted to Ephraim City at 5 South Main, Ephraim, Utah 84627, no later than the close of business on June 19, 2009. Questions about the position should be directed to Dave Parrish at 435-851-9870. 6/10, 17 HELP WANTED Snow College is accepting applications for a Literacy Coordinator/Instructor. Bilingual English and Spanish (writing and speaking) required. Associate of Science or Ar ts required, Bachelor’s degree preferred. Applicants will need a cover letter, Snow College employment application (can be downloaded at www.snow.edu/ jobs), resume and three references with complete contact information. Application deadline is July 9, 2009 with position remaining open until filled. Pay range between $24,000 and $27,000 annually, with full benefits package. Please submit materials to the Human Resource Office. EEOE 6/17, 24 C Y M K It took two weeks the first year to put the sets together. This year, now that Halling and others know how all the pieces fit together, they were able, with volunteers, to do the job in less than a day. While he helped with set assembly this year, his main focus as executive secretary is on administrative details. He’s the person who prepares agendas for meetings, runs off schedules telling performers when to show up for rehearsals and performances and passes out pageant-insignia polo shirts to the directing staff. And he recently picked up some outdoor carpet to cover up some worn grass on the pageant grounds. Why does a hard-working school teacher give up much of his summer vacation to the pageant? “My wife asks me that too,” he says. In answer, he says he’s looked over guest registers from pageants and found people who have come from three or four dozen countries and most of the 50 states. And recently, he heard a question about the Mormon Miracle Pageant on the TV show “Jeopardy.” His motivation, he says, comes from “the excitement of hosting such a big event,” the thrill of being involved in something “that’s known throughout the world.” Sales Director Looking for a professional job? Want to make a life in Sanpete County? The Sanpete Messenger is seeking an outgoing, resourceful, creative problem-solver to build our newspaper, web and potential TV advertising department from the ground up. Job entails contacting customers in person and by telephone, suggesting ad ideas, designing ads, and coming up with procedures for running the department. Previous newspaper or advertising experience a plus, but not critical. What is important is the ability to grasp a vision, figure out what steps to take to realize the vision, and tap resources in and out of the newspaper to learn and do the job. Must be deft in learning new software. Bachelor’s degree preferred, associate’s degree required, preferably in business, social science or communication. Graphic design and writing skills a big plus. Start three-quarter time, build to full time. Base pay modest but potential as big as your ability to produce results. Send resume to Suzanne@sanpetemessenger.com by July 7, 2009. PROGRAM DIRECTOR Top Flight Academy (Mt. Pleasant) is seeking to hire a full-time Program Director. Duties include staff and student management; ensure all program rules, policies and procedures are being followed; manage daily operations; and provide support to parents and staff. Applicant must have excellent communication and people skills. Minimum 2 years youth residential care experience required. Management experience preferred. Applicant must be at least 21 years old and be able to pass a criminal background check. Pay rate depends on experience. Job closes on June 26. Call Clayton for more information (435) 462-8082. 6/10, 17, 24 PART TIME BUSINESS OFFICE CLERK Must be available to work M-F 8 am – 5:30 pm. Computer experience a must. Apply in person or mail: Gunnison Valley Hospital Attn: David Peterson P.O. Box 759, Gunnison, UT 84634 Fax: (435) 528-2171 E-mail: davidp@gvhospital.org This position may close at anytime. 6/17, 24 Miscellaneous Listings SLT - IMMEDIATE OPENINGS for CDLA teams, solo drivers willing to team. $750 sign-on bonus. $1100/wk minimum pay. Hazmat & 1yr experience. Background check required. 1-800-835-9471. ____________________ EARN UP TO $500 weekly! Assembling various products at home. No Exp! Easy Work! Part time or full time. Call : 1-888-335-9661 Ad Code: X22 ____________________ A TRAVELING FUN JOB! Travel the USA, must be neat, outgoing and free to travel. Start immediately, no experience necessary. Call MR. T 888-440-0944. ____________________ ANDRUS TRANSPORTATION Seeking team drivers! Dedicated team freight. Also hiring OTR drivers west states exp/hazmat end, great miles/hometime. Stable family owned 35 yrs+ 800-888-5838 ext. 1402. CUSTOMER SERVICE REPS WANTED Lifestyle a growing company with brand new offices seeks 55 customer service representatives to fill a crucial role in our company. The successful candidate will be ambitious, hard working, friendly, outgoing and a team player. Please contact with your resume to employment@lifestyles.com for consideration. Benefits available. 6/17, 24 C Y M K |